On October 1, 2025, the Village of Northbrook will launch its new WaterSmart portal, a free service that will help customers track their water use, conserve resources, and prevent costly leaks. When the portal goes live, all water customers with contact information on file will automatically begin receiving leak alerts by email —whether they have registered for the program.
What Triggers a Leak Alert
WaterSmart uses advanced meter infrastructure to monitor water usage in near real time. When unusual or continuous water flow is detected, the system automatically sends an alert. Customers will be notified by email or phone call when the following conditions occur:
- Single family residential customers:
- Continuous flow of at least 2 gallons per hour for 12 hours in a row
- Burst alarm triggered if usage reaches 75 gallons per hour for 6 consecutive hours
- Commercial, schools, and large users:
- Continuous flow of at least 10 gallons per hour for 48 consecutive hours
These alerts are designed to help customers detect hidden leaks early, such as running toilets, dripping faucets, or underground line issues, before they lead to costly repairs or unexpectedly high-water bills. Note: When the portal first launches, customers will initially receive alerts by email. If you prefer to be notified by text message or phone call, you can update your communication preferences by opting in through your WaterSmart account settings.
Registration is quick and easy:
- Visit northbrookil.watersmart.com
- Enter your account number from your water bill and your zip code
- Answer a few simple survey questions to customize your experience
How to Manage Communication with WaterSmart
While all customers who have provided the Village with emails as part of their water accounts will begin receiving email alerts automatically, the best way to manage and customize how alerts are delivered is by registering your account with WaterSmart. Registration allows customers to:
- Choose between phone, email, and text notifications
- Set up optional high-bill alerts
- Access personalized water-saving tips
- Compare household usage to similar homes
Below is an image showing how to manage communication preferences in the WaterSmart portal.
WaterSmart Walkthrough
To help customers get started, the Village has prepared a walkthrough video that introduces the WaterSmart portal, demonstrates how to register, and highlights the system’s most useful tools.